Changes bring consistency and cut red tape for pharmacist immunisers in the state.

The NSW Govt has moved to expand vaccination access, with updates to the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards which expand access to National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines, lowering minimum age requirements for Shingrix vaccines, and removing the written consent requirement for COVID-19 vaccines, explained the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

PSA NSW President Luke Kelly said the changes cut unnecessary red tape, making vaccines more accessible across the state.

“As a state our focus should be on removing barriers to vaccination, cutting the red tape that prevents qualified pharmacist immunisers from delivering more vaccines to more people,” Kelly explained.

The key changes to vaccinations in NSW include the lowering of the age range that pharmacist immunisers can administer the Shingrix vaccine to, from previously 50 years and over to 18 years and over, to align with the eligibility for the Shingrix vaccine under the NIP.

The inclusion of monovalent meningococcal C vaccine for people aged five years and over will also ensure pharmacist immunisers can provide a full range of meningococcal vaccines to eligible cohorts.

The changes also remove the reference to the COVID-19 vaccine following its recent inclusion in the Australian Immunisation Handbook to be consistent with the approach for all other vaccines that pharmacist immunisers are authorised to administer.

The COVID-19 vaccine written consent requirements have also been removed to be consistent with consent requirements for all other vaccines, meaning informed consent must be obtained, and documented evidence of verbal consent must be made.

More details in Monday’s issue of Pharmacy Daily.